Game apparatus



Feb. 27, 1940. M. E. MINGER GAME APPARATUS Filed Dee. 20. 19:58

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wvrm m MME mmc.. /mm Essa :du wwo.. .Ecu H H l l uw .Si@di l., Erm ,/l/ H U HL y |NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1940. M. E. MINGERGAME APPARATUS Filed Deo. 20. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE OR ATTORNEYSPatented Feb. 27A 1940 i l l GAME APPAltAjfrUs MichaelE.lI/Iingenlottsville, Pa., assigner offenehalf't'o Edward P. White,Pottsville, Pa.

Application This invention-relates to aerial projectile game apparatus,and its general object is toprovide an apparatus of that character inthe form ofa toy which' I term table basketball, in that it includesafsuspended basket and a manually operated and controlled catapult forprojecting a ball toward the-basket, as well as chance means actuatedby"the"ballV when passed through the basket, to determine the score ofthe players, with the 'result it will be seen' that my game combines theelementsl of skill and luck and therefore affords much amusement andfun, regardless of the skill of the players.

Afurther object is to provide a toy basketball l5 game apparatus that issimple in construction,

inexpensive to manufacture and extremely efcient in operation, use andservice.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference Will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which: f l'Figure 1 is la vertical sectional view taken through the apparatuswhichv forms the subject matter of the present invention with parts ielevation. y

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken approxi` mately on line 3--3` ofFigure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken approxi# mately on line 4 4 of Figure1, looking in the f direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a View illustrating the indicia on the respective faces ofthe cube or die used with my game. l f f Figure 6 is afragmentary topplan view of a modified form of catapult. n

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken therethrough.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral I indicatesthe base of my apparatus which as shown is of flat elongated rec- 50tangular formation and secured to the base preferably midway its endsfor disposal transversely thereof is a strip member 2 recessed toreceive the base and of a length to extend beyond the opposite sidesthereof to aid in supporting the 55 same lagainst tilting or unduemovement, as

December' 20, 1938', Serial No; 246,888

1 claim. (eri 21a- 85) will be apparent and 4;

The basketsupporting means vis arranged at one end of the base I andincludes a cross member 3 `xed4 to the base by`a wing nut and boltconnection 4 and recessed as vshown to fit the base and tov extend uponopposite sidesy thereof,

upon inspection of Figures 2 to cooperate with the strip member y2 lforthe purpose set" forthfor the latter. Secured to and rising from' theextending vends of the crossmember 3; is al pair of parallel uprights 5having secured thereto adjacent their upper ends in bridging relation, abank board 6.

The basket includes a wire frame I having a ring likeportionfrom whichextend fastening bracket members 8 passed through the board and disposedin clamping engagement therewith,

l asbest shown in Figure 1, and threaded on the ring likeportion is thebody 9 of the basket which is preferably formed from woven cord in theusual truncated conical formation. t

Mounted adjacent the opposite ends of the base I is the catapult or ballprojecting means of my apparatus, and in the form as shown in Figures 1and 2, the catapult includes a mounting block I0 disposed transverselyofthe 'base and secured thereto by lugs II fixed to the opposite sidesof the base, as indicated in Figure 1. The lugs have openings thereinadjacentv their lupper ends to act as bearings for the ends of a pivotpin I2 that extends transversely through one end of the fiat or paddlelikecatapult lever I3 which has mounted on the upper surface thereofadjacent its opposite end and secured accordingly by adhesive materialor any suitable means, a ball cup Id'having a concaved seat therein forreceiving the ball I5.

The catapult is rspring actuated and limited in its swinging movement;vby toggle links I6 arranged in vpairs and' having their outer endspivotally'connected tothe lever I3 and the base respectively, whiletheir inner ends are pivotally connected to the ends of a pin I'I which.has secured thereto one end of a coil spring I8, the opposite end of thespring being connected to an eye-bolt I9 mounted through the block I andprovided with a wing nut 20. By that construction, it will be obviousthat the throw of the lever I3 can be adjusted so as to retain thecatapult under proper `tension at all times, sol that it willhave'suflicient power to project the ball a sufficientdistance to passthrough the basket.

Secured to the base and disposed; transversely thereof adjacent to thebasket supporting meansy is a mounting-block 2l reduced throughout itslength at its upper portion to act as a support for a paddle likeplatform 22 to rest thereon for rocking movement. However, the platformor rocking member 22 may be rockably secured to the mounting block 2l,but in any event one end portion of the rocking member 22 Lis arrangedbelow the basket for disposal in the path of the ball when passedtherethrough, as shown by the arrows in Figure 1, so as to rock themember 22 from its full line position to its dotted line position, forprojectinga die or cube 23 from the opposite end thereof, as likewiseshown lin lsligure and bolt connection 25 land supported at aninclination with respect to the base by a mounting block 26, the latterhaving an inclined upper surface for that purpose. Secured adjacent theupper end of the lever 24 by a wing nut and bolt connection 21 is a ballcup 28.

It will be obvious that regardless of the form of catapult used, thatthe ball is placed within the cup thereof, thence pressure is applied tothe free end of thelever by the player andwhen pressure is released, theball will be projected into space toward the basket, the object beingtocause the ball topass through the `baske-t'for.

actuating the chance means, that includes `the indicia bearing cube, inthe manner as previously set forth.

It is thought from the foregoing description w invention will belreadily apparent.'v v,

It isto be understood that changes` maybe made in the construction andin the combination that the advantages and novel featuresof thel 1appended claim. y What I claim is:

In a table basketball game, a base, basket suspendediabove vsaid base,asupporting block secured to said base andl having a reduced upperportion providing a bearing, a platform rockably mountedv on the bearingandl arranged withone and arrangement of the several parts, pr-crvided.y j that such changes fall within the scopefofI the f end'Vportion thereof directly'v underlying (the,

basket for disposal in the path of a ball whenp passed through thebasket for the ball to-"ItiltY the platform, and playing and scorekeeping indicia bearing means to be placed upon the'opposite end portionof the platform to be projected therefrom when the platform is tilted bythe ballpso"` as to determine the plays and score of thegame when saidmeans comes to rest. y A

- MICHAEL E; MINGER.

